Ice-making system



Filed Sept. 4, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNvE-Nron A. M, 5

ATTORNEY March 17, 1931. A. M. LEE 1,796,568

ICE MAKING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 4, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 INVENTOR BY M;- {ffw ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUDREY I. LEIJ 0l' um PLACE, TEXAS i ICI-m0 Smm i r Application med September This inveiition relates to new and useful im rovements in ice making systems.

(gne object ofthe invention is to provide a system whereby the time of freezing and energy required for freezing are lessened to a substantial degree by bringing the water that is to be frozen into intimate contact with the freezing agent, together with means whereby the blocks of ice may be harvested from the bottoms of the containers, thus making for economy in time and labor both in the production and the harvesting.

A particular object of the invention is to provide means for freezing a block of ice and harvesting said block of ice from the bottom of the container, whereby said block may be more conveniently handled and more quickly removed and transported from the container.

A further'object of the invention is to provide means for introducing air into the lower portion of each container and discharging the air at the top thereof.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which al1 example of the invention is shown, and wherein: Y v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a system constructved in accordance with theinvention,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal tional view taken on the line 4-4 Vof l,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the air no* supporting brac et, i Y Y Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one of the con# tainers showing the air hose connection,

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a block of ice in position on the truck and ready to be harvested. l p y Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a por'- tion of a,modified form of container taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 9, and

l, 182|. Iarial l0. 303,799.

Fig. 9 is tainer.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a container or vat which is preferably cylindrical in shape. Rigidl mounted in the container are a luralityo u right ice or water cans 11 whic are prefer-a ly cylindrical and are closel associated so as to economize in s ace. owever, it is to be understood that t e invention is not to be limited to a cylindrical can.

The uppr and lower ends of the cans are extende yond the top and bottom of the container, as is best shown in Fig. 3. The bottom of each can is open and is provided on opposite sides with inclined horizontal lugs or ribs 13. A countersunk cap 14 is telescoped into the bottom of each can and is provlded with a marginal flange 15 carrymg a suitable acking and enga mg the bottom edge of t e can so as to orm a fluidy tight jolnt when the cap is fastened. Each cap has a plurality of up-standing kee rs 16 adapted to engage over the lugs 13. he cap 1s inserted so thatthe keepers enter between the lugs and the cap `is then rotated 1n a clockwise direction to cause the kee rs to ride upthe inclined surfaces of the ugs whereby the caps are fastened in lace. For the top of each can a flange cover 17 is provided. Each cover has pins 18for engagmg in bayonet slots 19 in the up er end` of the can, whereb the cover may be aatened 1n place. y packing gasketsmay be 4InthebottumofeachcapMsIittefla i drain cock 20. `4Water may `be `supplied to the call in any suitable manner, by remov 'ring thcovers, 17 and inserting a water hose nl. In oneform of operation it is dea irle tom ply air to each can and exhau the air rom the can for thvpurpose I of egim the water and promoting the freeain'gvoperaton. Each can is provided in its upper rtion above that of the con tainer 10 `a nipple 21 on the inside of the can communicating with a tubo 22 on the outside ofthe can. The tube is for the purof drawi air from the can as will be minuit exilin'ed. On the opposite side an underside view of said conused on thaeovers.

of -each can is provided a second nipple 23 communicatin with a tube 24 which is connected with a line for supplying air.

A hanger bracket 25, as is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, has upstanding arms 26 provided with apertures 27 for receiving the nipv ples 21 and 23. This bracket is provided at its center with a nipple 28 connected with a depending perforated air tube 29. As is best shown in Fig. 3, the tube 29 hangs in the can 11 so as to distribute the air'. The nip les 23 and 28 are counterbored to receive spu s 30 on the ends of a hose or iexible tube31, whereby the tube 24 is connected with the tube 29.

As an illustration of the freezing system l have shown a diagram inFig. 1 wherein two groups of containers are shown. These containers are suitably enclosed in a housing 32, as is shown in Fig. 7. l

For each group I provide a header 33 having laterals 34 extending to the tops of the containers 10 for exhausting the ammonia gas therefrom. Also for eac group a header 35 is provided and connected with the bottomof each container by laterals 36 for supplying liquid ammonia. The liquid ammonia is supplied to the containers and `cornes into direct contact with the cans 11. Owing to the absorbed heat this liquid ammonia will generate ammonia gas which will be carried off through the laterals 34 and the header 33. For each group I provide an inlet header 37 and an outlet header 38. The tubes 24 are connected with the header 37 while the tubes 22 are connected with the` header 38. The headers 37 are connected with an air suppl pipe 39 extending from an air pump 40, w ile the headers 38 are connected with an air suction pipe 41 leading to the pump. The air which is drawn from the cans 11`is' re-delivered to said cans by the parts which have been described. The cans are never filled above the brackets 25 and, therefore, Water can not be4 drawn into the tubes 22.

The ammoniagas headers 33 are each connected with a pi e 42 which in turn is connected with a suitable compressor 43. A T 44 is connected in the pipe 42 and a high pressure bypass ipe 45 is connected to said The p1 e 45 ridges the compressor and is connecte in a discharge pipe 46 leadingv from the compressor. Acut-of valve 47 is connected in the bypass pipe and between this valve and the T 44 a suitable pressure valve 48 isconnected in the pipe 45. The valve 48 may be of any suitable type such as is now in Ycommon use and which may be set to maintain a. pre-determined pressure.

Each pipe 46 is connected with a suitable lcondenser 49 by means of a pipe 50. A return pipe 51 leads from the lcondenser to areceiver 52 and has a valve 53 adjacent said.

receiver. An auxiliary receiver 54 is connected with the pipe 51 by a short pipe 55 including a valve 56. Liquid ammonia'is contained in the receivers and this fiuid, when escaping from the containers 10 through the tube 34, headers 33 and pipes 42 to the compressors, may be gaseous owing to the absorbed heat. Upon passing through the condenser the fluid is again reduced to a liquid state.

Each header 35 is connected with a branch pipe 57 including a valve 58, and these pipes are in turn connectedA with a supply pipe 59 having connection at its end with branch pipes 61 and 62. The pipe 61 is connected with the main receiver 52 and includes a cutoff valve 63, while the pipe 62 is connected .ducing valve 65. The liquid ammonia is thus supplied to the containers through the pipes 36 fromthe headers 35.

In operating the system the valves 47 and 48 are closed. Water is supplied to the cans 11 by removing the covers 17 and flowing the water through a hose or any other suitable manner. The air pump 40 being started will create a suction, thus drawing air from the cans 11 through the tubes 22, headers 38 and pipe 41. The pump 40 will-discharge air through the pipe 39, which air will be distributed to the laterals 37 and. conducted by the tubes 24 through the connections 31 to the nozzle tubes 29. The air will thus be discharged from the tubes 29 at various elevations.

The compressors 43 being in operation and the valves 64 and 65 being closed, liquid ammonia is discharged from the main receiver 52 through the pipes 61, 59 and'57 to the hea-ders 35 from which it is conducted bythe laterals 36 to the bottoms of the containers 10.

This liquid is circulated through the containers and around the Water cans. Owing to the cylindrical shape of the containers and the water cans, the latter may be placed in close relation and yet suiciently spaced to ermit a free circulation around each can. xcept for small portions at the upper and lower endsLthyeentire length of each can is exposed to theV contact of the liquid ammonia within the container.

The liquid ammonia coming in direct contact with the cans 11 will absorb the heat and the water in said cans will thus be cooled, as is Well understood, the air agitation promoting the freezingoperation.V The liquid ammonia expanding in the containers is converted into a gas and this gaseous iuid is exhausted from the top of each container through the pipe 34. l

These warm gases are conveyed by the pipes 34 kto the headers 33 by reason of the suction created byv the compressors. The warm gases are conveyed by the pipes 42 to the compressors 43 and v after beingl compressed, whereby their temperatures are lcross pipe 67 includin the pipe 50 and thence to the condenser 49. The warm gases entering the condenser are converted into li uid ammonia and this is delivered by the pipe 5l to the containers 52 and 54.

When ice is produced in the cans 11 of group 1, a valve 66 inthe pipe 42 is closed, thus cutting oi the return of the ammonia fluid to the compressor of said`group. The pipes 42 of the two groups are connected by a a cut-off valve 68, which is normally c osed. Consequently when the valve 66 is closed and the valve 68 is opened, both compressors will draw the ammonialiquid from group 2. This will permit the harvesting of ice from group 1 without disturbing the operation of group 2.

By opening the valve 47 of the pipe 45 con nected with compressor number 1, warm gas is by-passed from the pipe 46 through the pipe 45 to the header 33 of group 1, thus reversing the flow. The reducing or pressure valve 48 isset to control the pressure and flow of this gas. For instance the as may have a temperature of approximate y 110 degrees Fahrenheit and the valve 38 may be set to maintain the pressure about 110# gau e.

The warm gas thus introduced into t e containers 10 of roup l from the pipes 34 will contact with t e walls of the water cans and suiiiciently heat the same to cause a slight thawin of the blocks of ice in said cans so that said blocks can be removed. At the same time the gas is condensed into liquid ammonia. This liquid will flow out through the pipes 36 of group 1 to the header 35 and will be conducted by the pipe 57 to the inlet header 35 of group 2.

Should the condensation of the gas in group 1 be insuicient to supply group 2 while group 1 is being thawed, the valve 63 in the pipe 61 of the main receiver 52 is closed and the valve 64 of the auxiliary receiver is opened, whereby an auxiliary supply of am monia liquid is delivered to the pipe 59. The

valve 65 is set to maintain the proper pres-` sure, as is obvious. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to two groups, and the system may include any suitable number of groups. j

The thawing of the ice in group 1 will require about twent minutes, more or less' however, this time is subject to variation. Oi course any other thawing method might be used. In harvesting the ice from the cans it is necessar to first remove the covers 17 and then isconnect each hose 31 from the i nipple 28 so that a hot needle or equivalent each block of ice when supported on a truck 71 will have its upper end extending into the lower end of its respective can. fter the thawing operation the caps 14 are removed and the blocks of ice are lowered to the truck 71. Prior to removing the caps 14 it is advisable to replace the covers 17 so that the block in descending will tend to create a suction, vwhereby its descent will be retarded. An suitable means for lowering the blocks cou d be used if desired.

By leaving the u per ends of the blocks within the lower ends of the cans, it will not be necessary to replace the caps 14. The cans can be again filled with water and after the freezing process has rogressed to the proper degree the harves blocks ma be severed just below the cans and remove Of course if desired the entire block could be harvested and the caps replaced. By harvesting the blocks from the bottoms of the cans considerable time and labor, as well as expense, is saved.

It is not necessary to use the articular kind of cans and containers which ave been described, as the invention may be applied to any form of freezing can. In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a rectan lar can 80 having a ianged cap 81 telescoping intoits bottom. The cap has a marginal flange 82 carrying a gasket 83 for eng 'ng the bottom flange 84 of the can. Cross eads 85 have their ends engaging in hangers 86 and carry screws 87 engaging in bosses 88 arranged in the countersunk bottom of the cap. y tightening the screws the caps vare firmly astened in position.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, is:

1. VIn an ice producing apparatus, a container for holding a refrigerant, a water can in said container, a removable bottom for the can, whereby the block of ice may be harvested from the bottom of said can, and a removable cover for'the upper end of the can sealed thereto to form va vacuum as the ice is withdrawn from the can.

2. In an ice producing apparatus, a container, water cans in said container having their upper and lower ends exposed, covers for the upper ends of the cans, means for introducing air into theupper ends of the cans, means for exhausting air from the upper ends of the cans, means for circulating a refrigerant through the container, and removable cap's for the bottoms of the cans, whereby the ice may be harvested from the bottoms of said cans.

3. As a sub-combination in an ice producing apparatus, a refrigerant container having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of water cans in said container having rtheir upper and lowerends projecting from said eo'ntainer, removable covers or'the upper ends of the cams, and removable vcaps for the lower ends of said cans. Y

In/-testimony-whereof I ax my signature.

4'/ AUBREY M.

Aaov i SET 

